Gel Coat with faded metalflake

[bigredinohio]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

Hello Bigred..

I agree with ondarvr..

but with a twist.. can you buff out a spot till new ? mebbe 2-3 times ..

Is the flake at the surface..or under clear still ? ( look close )

Other than that.. Id go with paint. along with what ondarvr said.. Clear gel is very very touchy. Better go with some Imron or Awlcraft 2000. IMO..

YD.

I'd say the metalflake is at the surface. When I magnified to look at it, it looks like random tiny divits in the clear with occasional flake exposed. I haven't noticed any flake coming off though when I wet sanded or buffed...not sure it it would or not?

Side question: If I go with the paint, would I be able to get it metalflaked where the red is too far faded to match the rest of the boat then clear coat with Imron?

I know I probably sound like a moron asking these questions but I really don't want to screw this up. I really like the idea of gel coat just for the fact of the durability and also for the fact that the bottom is going to need touched up as well with the scrapes and gouges. I figure I should learn how to do it now and become "educated" if you will.

If I've learned anything...it's never buy a metalflaked boat, especially if it's two toned!

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

You could also potentially make it look the closest to the factory gel scheme if you scuffed the whole upper (cap) then taped to leave the line where it should be just flake around the perimeter) and then used a red candy that would let the flake show a little through on the center part, leaving just flake around the edges analogous to lower half of the hull, then cleared the whole upper half... maybe even do the bottom the same way, but just lightly cover the red part with dilute candy (in clear) to get the red tint match closer to the top... lots you could potentially do over the remaining flake and have it turn out fairly nice... starting from scratch and doing an oild school large flake job on a boat with auto paint (or gel - doing it after the fact is inside out) is not for the feint of heart... ie. uninitiated.

imho

Further, I've found that the acrylic urethanes hold up pretty darn well and are MUCH easier to work with for an ameture on a limited budget such as myself...

ps. I love my two toned metalflake skiboat...

 

[proshadetree]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

I sure loved mine.I will regel one day.2.5 tip on a gravity sraygun then duratech last couple of coats.

 

[Yacht Dr.]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

I sure loved mine.I will regel one day.2.5 tip on a gravity sraygun then duratech last couple of coats.

You really dont want to do that m8..

If your talking about a "Duratech" additive..then dont bother..

by the time you sand out your peel then you have a mixed coat. ( not good ) DONT put clear in your gel ! ( unless your doing a spot repair to wash out the pigments ).

IF you want a flake .. then prime/base/topcoat with a fine alum. product.. you WONT be able to lay large flakes ( bass boat gel flakes ) the first time m8.. please listen..Its an art..

Another thing..those metal flakes.. if you sanded down to it...will capulate water into the metal ( its already starting to rust weather you see it or not ). you need to prep and prime IMO on the same day. MASK then reprep said spray area for exposed alum. PRIME asap.. then you have the time to prep for topcoat as needed.... Just IMO

YD.

 

[wca_tim]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

How do the polyester flakes hold up in nterms of color? I've played a bit with pearls, candies, flakes (even big ones out of a relatively small tip), etc... on bikes and other smaller things, but aven't any experience with how they would retain shine and color in an aplication like a boat. Do you have any experience with them?

 

[ondarvr]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

They hold up OK, but it can also depend on the color of the flake. If you keep the boat covered when not in use they will last a very long time.

 

[jimjomac]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

This here newbie had to chime in, since I also have a 1975 Checkmate - a V-Mate 15'. It's metalflake gold color, faded as you'd expect but in pretty good shape. A lot of the flakes are starting to fade. I've refrained from waxing since I eventually want to do something with it and don't want to affect adhesion.

I'm fascinated to hear all the advice being given. I was considering an approach to just "preserve what I've got" and gloss it up a bit using Chroma Clear 7900. I swapped a few emails with a DuPont rep who was very helpful.

BTW, I painted a couple of cars many years ago with my Binks model 69, and that is about the extent of my experience - very very far from expert!

 

[jimjomac]

Re: Gel Coat with faded metalflake

This here newbie had to chime in, since I also have a 1975 Checkmate - a V-Mate 15'. It's metalflake gold color, faded as you'd expect but in pretty good shape. A lot of the flakes are starting to fade. I've refrained from waxing since I eventually want to do something with it and don't want to affect adhesion.

I'm fascinated to hear all the advice being given. I was considering an approach to just "preserve what I've got" and gloss it up a bit using Chroma Clear 7900. I swapped a few emails with a DuPont rep who was very helpful.

BTW, I painted a couple of cars many years ago with my Binks model 69, and that is about the extent of my experience - very very far from expert!